Improved animal-trap



we emit.

x w.v 3.,'OLARKSO`N, Or GOUBDINfS DEPOT, NORTH-EASTERN e SOUTH OAROLINA.

RMLROAD,

. Letters Parma No. 99,293, mm1 February 1, 1ero.A

The Schedule referred to in these Lettem Patent and making part of the same.

I, 'W. J. CLARKSON, of Gourdins Depot, No1-th- Eastern kailroad, in the State of South Carolina, have invented an Improved Aniinal-irap, which I denominate The Surprise Trap.

Nature mul Obiects.

General Description. The platform or frame'A, of the wheel B, is made of such form and dimensions as to rest over the mouthv of the vparticular form of receptacle C, for which intended.

It is provided with a shield, D, to prevent access to the wheel, except at the proper point.

A spring, E, attached, at one end, by a hook, a, or its equivalent, to the platform A, or a iixed accessory of said platform, and, at its other, to a shaft, F, serves,

in conjunctionwith a pawl and ratchet, G H, connecting said shaft to the wheel, as a means for storing power to propel said wheel when it is released.

A shield, I, concentric with the, shield D, of the wheel B, may protect said spring.

A projecting square or similarly-formed end f, of the'spring-shaft.11",- enables a key to be applied to it, to wind the spring.

bThe wheel -B consists of four radial. 'wings b, suitably connected.

Each ofsaid wings is provided, centrally, on its front or under side, with a radial bolt, J, working in suitable guides, j. Said bolts serve to lock the wheel against forward and retrograde movement, when the trap is set, catches or stops, al d', being provided on the platform A and wheel-shield D for the engagement of two of them, when the wings on which they are, are in proper position for the purpose.

To enable said bolts J to be operated, they are connected at their inner ends to levers or treadles K, hinged to the wings b of the wheel, behind said bolts, and pressed upward, by springs L, to project the bolts.

Hooks k, or their equivalent, on the treadles K, receive the baits.

The receptacle C, for small animals, may consist, as represented, of a'wooden box, having the usual reception and prison-chambers m a, provided with doors such receptacle is represented.

ing the receptacle with sides c, inclined inward, atl

o p, for the passage of the animals into the latter, and their removal therefrom, said. doors being perforated or open, to decoy the animals through the former.

A convenient and superior manner of constructing It consists in formtheir upper edges, and tapering, in height, to their rear ends, where they are secured to an end piece, ci, of the same height as them, and with 'a top, c?, provided with a cleat or cleats, ci, for engagement under the projecting edges of the sides c, whereby it is enabled to be held by a single screw, o4, or its equivalent, and'thns to be readily removed, when desired. g

The plat-form A, of the wheel, may he attached to suchreceptaole by projections or pins a2, on its inner end, engaging with corresponding sockets in the top c2, of the receptacle, and a hasp, a, onits outer end, engaging with a staple, c", on the receptacle.

lhe tra, is ver su erior for catchinnr Tame where y l a c a Operation.

vThe operation of the ltrap, Ias represented, is as follows:

rlhe wheel B, being set over the receptacle, and rl previously or subsequently baited, by fixing a bait on each of the treadlcs K, by means of their hooks 7.',

the spring E is wound up, by applying a key to the square end j, of its shaft l, the wheelbeing held from rotation by one of its bolts J, engaging with the stop al on its platform. The trap is then set The shield l) compels the animals to enter at the front side .of the wheel. Advancing to take the exposed bait, they are brought within the wheel, and, on touching the. bait, the bolt J, with which the bait is connected, is retracted through the treadle K, on which the bait is secured, and the wheel, being thereby released, is rotated by the spring E, depositing the animal into the receptacle C. l

The bolt J, by the retraction of which the wheel was released, being advanced again, by its spring L, engages behind the stop al, on the platform A, and prevents the wheel being turned by the animal in its endeavors to escape. rlhe next bolt J, in the circumference of the wheel, being brought against the stop d', ou the shield, I), the wheel is aga-in set.

The animal, iinding itself enclosed in the chamber m, of the receptacle C, andattracted by the light admitted by the door o, will be led to exert; itself thereaga-inst. Opening to pressure, said door will permit',

its ingress'nto the prison-chamber n, where it; is confined, the door o yielding only in the opposite direction. f To remove the an1mals,the door p is opened, Ior the top a? removed.

Claim. I claim, s new- TheAtrapping-eppliance, composed of the wheel B,

shield D, spring E, spring-shaft; F f', pawl and ratchet;

G H, and locking and tripping-devices J K. k L a d',

mounted in a plat-form A, detachable and removable from the receptacle C, and constructed and'arranged as represented and described, for the purpose setforth.

. W. J. CLARKSON.

Witnesses:

C. M. MATTHEWS, N. B. GLAmzsoN. 

